Help with Machine Controllers and Monitors specifications:
Form Factor
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Form Factor | |||
Your choices are... | |||
Card | The device is a card that is designed to be plugged into a backplane | ||
Desktop / Stand Alone / Tower | The device has an enclosure and is designed for stand-alone or desktop applications. | ||
DIN Rail | The device is designed for mounting on a DIN rail. DIN is an acronym for Deutsche Institute fuer Normung, a German standardization body and member of ISO. | ||
Embedded | The device is meant to be embedded. | ||
Handheld / Portable | The device is small enough to carry or be held in the held, or is portable. | ||
Panel Mount | The device has a flange for mounting to a panel. The flange can have mounting holes or mounting studs. | ||
Rack Mount | The device can be mounted in a rack enclosure. | ||
Other | Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary configurations. | ||
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Electrical Ratings
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Supply Voltage (AC) | AC supply voltage is the range of AC input voltages for which the monitor or controller operates. | ||
Search Logic: | User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria. | ||
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Supply Voltage (DC) | DC supply voltage is the range of DC input voltages for which the monitor or controller operates. | ||
Search Logic: | User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria. | ||
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AC Input Frequency | |||
Your choices are... | |||
50 Hz | Devices accept 50 Hz AC inputs. | ||
60 Hz | Devices accept 60 Hz AC inputs. | ||
400 Hz | Devices accept 400 Hz AC inputs. | ||
Other | Other unlisted frequencies. | ||
Search Logic: | All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches. | ||
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Drives
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Resolution | Resolution is the number of binary digits (bits) that a device uses to characterize an analog signal. | ||
Search Logic: | All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value. | ||
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Number of Axes / Motors | The number of axes that the device can drive or control. Follower or dependent axes are often listed as "half" axes. | ||
Search Logic: | User may specify either, both, or neither of the "At Least" and "No More Than" values. Products returned as matches will meet all specified criteria. | ||
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Drive Power | Drive power is a power rating specified in watts (W) or horsepower (hp). | ||
Search Logic: | All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value. | ||
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Memory
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RAM | Random access memory (RAM) is the main memory of the device. | ||
Search Logic: | All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value. | ||
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Flash Memory (RAM) | Flash memory is a type of RAM that can retain memory electronically, even when the power is off. | ||
Search Logic: | All matching products will have a value greater than or equal to the specified value. | ||
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Features
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Features | |||
Your choices are... | |||
Anti-Vibration | The device is resistant to vibration. | ||
Encoder Feedback | Encoder feedback is used for digital positioning. The drive calculates and compensates position errors in real-time. Typically, a rotary encoder with either incremental or absolute position signals is used. This use of feedback is also closed-loop control. | ||
GPS-Enabled | The device is GPS-enabled. GPS, an acronym for global positioning system, refers to a system of satellites and receivers which allow people and devices to pinpoint their precise location on Earth. The system relies on 24 satellites that orbit the earth twice per day. Devices with a GPS chip receive transmissions from several of these satellites, and are able to discern very precise positioning data. | ||
Integral Software | Software is integral to the device. | ||
Multi-Speed | The device is capable of multi-speed operation or control. | ||
Optically Isolated | The device uses optical isolation to protect the inputs and outputs. | ||
PID Control | Proportional, integral, and derivative (PID) control requires real-time system feedback. PID is a sophisticated control technique which monitors the error between a desired variable value and the actual value, and adjusts the control accordingly (proportional). Derivative and integral features can provide further control refinement by incorporating variables like rate-of-change of error to tune the control signal. Though sophisticated, PID controls must be tuned to prevent noisy operation and provide accurate process control. | ||
Data Logger / Recorder | The device can act as a data recorder to monitor various attributes of the equipment. | ||
Up / Downtime Tracking | Devices track the up-time and downtime of the device being controlled or monitored. | ||
Other | Other unlisted features. | ||
Search Logic: | All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches. | ||
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Communication
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Setup and Control | |||
Your choices are... | |||
Computer Interface | The drive / control is configured, calibrated, and diagnosed via a computer connection. | ||
Control Panel | The device has an integral control panel with an interface such as a keypad, touch screen, or other local programming interface. | ||
Dial-up | With dial-up communications, the device is connected to a network via a modem and a public telephone network. | ||
Removable Disk / EPROM | The device's programming is held in a removeable, nonvolatile storage media such as a floppy disk, diskette, or erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM). | ||
Handheld Controller / Programmer | The device can be controlled or programmed from a handheld controller or remote control. | ||
Joystick | The controller or drive can be operated with a joystick for motion control. | ||
Manual | The drive / control settings are adjusted with manual controls such as knobs, DIP switches, jumpers, or potentiometers. | ||
PCMCIA (PC Card) Slot(s) | The controller or drive contains slots or connectors for PCMCIA (PC Card) modules, which can contain memory, programming, and other peripheral capacity. PCMCIA stands for Personal Computer Memory Card International Association. | ||
Web-Enabled | The device contains hardware and software protocols such as hypertext transfer protocol (http) or web access protocol (WAP); and is addressable to, or serves as a node of, the World Wide Web (WWW) for remote monitoring or communication. | ||
Wireless Communication | Communication, setup, and control are possible via a remote wireless control interface. | ||
Other | Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary methods of setup and control. | ||
Search Logic: | All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches. | ||
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Communication Standards | |||
Your choices are... | |||
ARCNET | Attached resource computer network (ARCNET) is an embedded, high-speed, token-based network technology that provides local area network (LAN) communications between computers. ARCNET relies on a bus or star topology and can support up to 255 nodes. Different versions run at speeds of 1.5 Mbps, 20 Mbps (ARCNET Plus), and 100 Mbps. | ||
AS-i | The AS-interface (AS-i) is a network system for the lower field range of the automation level. It is suitable for networking binary actuators and sensors. The use of a special integrated circuit (IC) allows AS-i to be integrated with small devices in a cost-effective manner. | ||
Beckhoff I/O | Beckhoff I/O combines open fieldbus protocols with the proprietary Beckhoff bus terminal system. KBUS extension technology facilitates connections between the bus terminal and a large variety of devices. | ||
CANbus | Controller area network bus (CANbus) is a high-speed serial data network designed for harsh electrical environments and real-time control applications. It operates at data rates up to 1 Mbps and provides excellent error detection and confinement capabilities. | ||
CANopen | CANopen is a communication standard based on controller area network (CAN) technology and optimized for embedded systems in industrial control environments. Its network protocol contains many predefined network functionalities, making it suitable for flexible, application-specific systems. | ||
DeviceNet | DeviceNet uses controller area network (CAN) network protocol to connect industrial devices such as limit switches, photoelectric cells, valve manifolds, motor starters, drives, and operator displays to programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and personal computers (PCs). | ||
Ethernet | Ethernet is a local area network (LAN) protocol that uses a bus or star typology and supports data transfer rates of 10 Mbps. The Ethernet specification is the basis for the IEEE 802.3 standard, which specifies the physical and lower software layers. To handle simultaneous demands, Ethernet uses carrier sense multiple access / collision detection (CSMA/CD) to monitor network traffic. | ||
IEEE 1394 (FireWire®) | IEEE 1394 or FireWire® is an interface standard adopted by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) for very fast digital data transfers such as streaming video. IEEE 1394 connectors are used to transmit and receive data among FireWire devices, and are designed to replace external high-speed peripheral connections to personal computers, including hard disks, CD-ROMs, DVDs, graphics cards, high-speed scanners, direct video, monitors, etc. Tiny, robust FireWire connectors will also become important parts of home entertainment, communication, and appliance networks. FireWire is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. | ||
FOUNDATION Fieldbus | The FOUNDATION fieldbus is a serial, all-digital, two-way communication system that serves as a local area network (LAN) for factory instrumentation and control devices. It uses a line or tree topology and distributed data transfer (DDT). In the hierarchy of digital networks, the FOUNDATION fieldbus is on the lower end. | ||
GPIB | The general-purpose interface bus (GPIB) is designed to connect computers, peripherals and laboratory instruments so that data and control information can pass between them. It was originally developed by Hewlett Packard (HP) and called the HPIB bus. GPIB is also know as the IEEE 488 bus, and is electrically equivalent to the IEC 625 bus. | ||
IEEE P1451 | IEEE P1451 is a standard designed to produce network-capable, network-independent smart sensors. All transducers are identical, regardless of the target network or fieldbus. | ||
INTERBUS® | INTERBUS® is a fieldbus network based on the cyclic, serial transmission of input/output data between a master and slave stations. Common versions include INTERBUS-S®, INTERBUS-R®, and INTERBUS-MUX® (MUX). INTERBUS, INTERBUS-S and INTERBUS-MUX are registered trademarks of Phoenix Contact GmbH & Co. | ||
Parallel | Parallel channels can transfer more than one bit simultaneously. They connect to a computer through a parallel port. Common protocols include standard parallel port (SPP) and enhanced parallel port (EPP). Centronics connectors are standard parallel interface devices for connecting printers and other peripherals such as portable disc drives, tape backup drives, and CD-ROM players to computers. | ||
PROFIBUS® | The process fieldbus (PROFIBUS®) is a popular, open communication standard used in factory automation, process automation, motion control, and safety applications. PROFIBUS is standardized in IEC 71158 and IEC 61784 and is suitable for both fast, time-critical applications and complex communication tasks. PROFIBUS is a registered trademark of PROFIBUS International. | ||
RS232 | RS232 is a standard interface between data terminal equipment (DTE) and data communications equipment (DCE). RS232 uses serial binary data interchange. | ||
RS422 | RS422 is a balanced serial interface for the transmission of digital data. It was designed for greater distances and higher Baud rates than RS232. | ||
RS485 | RS485 is a balanced serial interface for the transmission of digital data. The advantage of a balanced signal is the greater immunity to noise. The difference between RS422 and RS485 is that RS485 can be transformed into a multi-point application. | ||
SCSI | Small computer systems interface (SCSI) is an intelligent I/O parallel peripheral bus with a standard, device-independent protocol that allows many peripheral devices to be connected to the SCSI port. A single SCSI bus can drive up to eight devices or units: the host adapter or controller, and seven other devices. Each device is assigned a different SCSI ID, ranging from 0 to 7. SCSI formats include SCSI-1, SCSI-2, SCSI-3, Wide SCSI, Fast SCSI, Wide Fast SCSI, Ultra SCSI, Ultra2 SCSI, Ultra3 SCI (Ultra160), Ultra 320 SCSI, and Ultra640 SCSI. | ||
SDS | Smart distributed system (SDS) is an advanced bus technology for intelligent sensors and actuators that is based on controller area network (CAN) technology. | ||
Sensoplex® | Sensoplex® is a master/slave fieldbus system that allows for the direct interconnection of field devices such as sensors and actuators to a controller, via a single coaxial cable. Sensoplex is a registered trademark of Hans Turck GmbH & Co. | ||
SERCOS | Serial real-time communications system (SERCOS) is an open-standard, digital drive interface specification for communications between controllers and intelligent devices. SERCOS is designed for the high-speed serial transmission of standardized, closed-loop data in real-time over a noise-immune, fiber optic cable. | ||
Seriplex | The Seriplex interface uses a four-wire cable that provides both communication and power. Embedded and non-embedded application specific integrated circuits (ASIC) are used to control the components connected to the bus, and to provide addressing capabilities. Seriplex devices include pushbuttons, contactors, valves, limiters, sensors, and actuators. | ||
SynqNet® | SynqNet® is a digital motion control interface for connections between controllers and drives. It was developed specifically to optimize high-performance motion control. SynqNet is a registered trademark of Motion Engineering. | ||
TTL | Transistor-transistor logic (TTL) is a common type of digital circuit in which the output is derived from two transistors. More commonly, however, TTL is used to designate any type of digital input or device. | ||
USB | Universal serial bus (USB) is a 4-wire, 12-Mbps serial bus for low-to-medium speed peripheral device connections to personal computers (PC), including keyboards, mice, modems, printers, joysticks, audio functions, monitor controls, etc. The USB design is standardized by the USB Implementers Forum (USBIF), an organization that includes leading companies from the computer and electronics industries. The current USB specification is USB 2.0, which supports data transfer rates of up to 480 Mbps. | ||
VMEbus | VersaModule Eurocard bus (VMEbus) is a popular, 32-bit bus used in industrial, commercial and military applications. The VMEbus is based on the VME standard, which defines mechanical specifications such as board dimensions, connector specifications and enclosure characteristics, as well as the electronic specifications for sub-bus structures, signal functions, timing, signal voltage levels, and master/slave configurations. The VMEbus uses 3U and 6U Eurocards, rugged circuit boards that provide a 96-pin plug instead of an edge connector for durability. Several VMEbus varieties are available. | ||
Other | Other unlisted, specialized, or proprietary network systems. | ||
Search Logic: | Products with the selected attribute will be returned as matches. Leaving or selecting "No Preference" will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches. | ||
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Application
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Industry | |||
Your choices are... | |||
Aerospace | The device is designed for aerospace applications. | ||
Automotive | The device is designed for automotive applications. | ||
Marine | The device is designed for use in marine applications. | ||
Medical | The device is designed for medical applications. | ||
Military | The device is designed for military applications. | ||
Industrial | The device is designed for use with industrial equipment or other control units. | ||
Other | Other unlisted industries or applications. | ||
Search Logic: | All products with ANY of the selected attributes will be returned as matches. Leaving all boxes unchecked will not limit the search criteria for this question; products with all attribute options will be returned as matches. | ||
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